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Dealing with serious flood damage at home is not the end of the world. And most importantly, it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg to get your home back into living condition again. In fact, you may find (like I did) that recovering from a flood gives you an opportunity to improve the look and feel of your home overall, and even to implement design options that increase the value of your property. I spent about a year fixing up my place after a pipe exploded while I was on vacation, and literally ruined everything inside from the flooring and walls, to my photos and important paperwork. So, I figured I could help others "pick up the pieces" and create a bigger ad better lifestyle at home by turning a flood situation into an opportunity, instead of dealing with it like a crisis.

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Picking Up the Pieces After a Flood

Three Outdoor Patio Furniture Care Tips

15 November 2016
by Scott Gordon

Metal outdoor furniture can be a common choice for homeowners that are wanting to create a comfortable and functional patio. Sadly, it is a reality that homeowners will often overlook the care needs of these pieces of furniture. In order to ensure that your patio furniture lasts for as long as possible, you will want to be aware of these basic tips.

Inspect The Furniture For Scratches

Over the course of time, it can be possible for your metal furniture to become scratched. This can occur due to accidentally bumping the furniture against other items or windblown debris striking it. While these scratches might not seem like they are a major problem, they can compromise the protective coating that will prevent rust from forming. As a result, you will want to regularly inspect the furniture, and if you notice scratches, you will need to thoroughly clean the damaged area before applying a metal sealant.

Clean The Furniture At Least Once A Month

Washing the furniture can be among the most effective steps that you can take to extend the life of your furniture. As time passes, the patio furniture may start to accumulate dirt and dust. These materials can make it easier for mosses and algae to start growing on the furniture. If these substances are not removed, they will trap moisture against the metal of the furniture, which can lead to corrosion. By washing the furniture at least once a month, you will remove these substances before they are able to cause structural damage or discoloration.

When washing the furniture, you must make sure that you use a cleaning solution that is safe for use on outdoor metal furniture. Using a cleaning solution that is not designed for this type of furniture can cause damage as the furniture's protective exterior coat may be stripped away by harsh cleaning solutions.

Steam Clean Any Upholstery

Many pieces of patio furniture will have upholstery to make them more comfortable. However, there are many individuals that may neglect the importance of cleaning the upholstered parts of their furniture. Fortunately, steam cleaning the upholstery can be an effective and convenient method for cleaning this part of your furniture. The intense heat and powerful cleaning solutions used by steam cleaners will remove or neutralize dirt, molds, mildews, and fungi from the upholstery. By performing this type of cleaning each year, you can help ensure that your upholstered patio furniture lasts for as long as possible before needing to be replaced.